Brace vs. Prop — What's the Difference?

A brace is a support device that corrects or holds body parts in place.

Props in photography hold or position subjects.

In machinery, braces are used to add strength or support.

A prop is a support that holds something up.

Dental braces align and straighten teeth over time.

In general use, anything that supports or maintains position can be a prop.

Bracing oneself means preparing for something difficult or unpleasant.

In theater, props are objects used by actors to enhance the performance.

Braces in construction reinforce structures against stress.

Temporary supports during construction are called props.

A device fitted to something, in particular a weak or injured part of the body, to give support

An object placed beneath or against a structure to keep it from falling or shaking; a support.

A pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the top of trousers at the front and back to hold them up.

One that serves as a means of support or assistance.

Either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected.

Any of the articles other than costumes and scenery used by an actor or performer during a performance on stage or in a film.

Make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support

Someone or something displayed to impress others or provide a false impression.

A device that holds or fastens two or more parts together or in place; a clamp.

A propeller.

A device, such as a supporting beam in a building or a connecting wire or rope, that steadies or holds something else erect.

To support by placing something beneath or against; shore up.

Braces Chiefly British Suspenders.

An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports.

An orthopedic appliance used to support, align, or hold a bodily part in the correct position.

(rugby) The player on either side of the hooker in a scrum.

Often braces A dental appliance constructed of bands and wires that is fixed to the teeth to correct irregular alignment.

Any of the seashells in the game of props.

An extremely stiff, erect posture.

An item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or scenario in which actors perform.

A cause or source of renewed physical or spiritual vigor.

An item placed within an advertisement in order to suggest a style of living etc.

A protective pad strapped to the bow arm of an archer.

The propeller of an aircraft.

(Nautical)A rope by which a yard is swung and secured on a square-rigged ship.

A proposition, especially on an election-day ballot.

A cranklike handle with an adjustable aperture at one end for securing and turning a bit.

(rocketry) rocket fuel}}

(Music)A leather loop that slides to change the tension on the cord of a drum.

To support or shore up something.

A vertical line, usually accompanied by the symbol {, connecting two or more staffs.

(intransitive) To play rugby in the prop position.

A set of staffs connected in this way.

To position the feet of (a person) while sitting, lying down, or reclining so that the knees are elevated at a higher level.

A symbol, { or }, enclosing two or more lines of text or listed items to show that they are considered as a unit.

To manually start the engine of a propeller-driven aircraft with no electric starter by pulling vigorously on one of the propeller blades using the hands, so that the propeller can catch ignition.

(Mathematics)Either of a pair of symbols, { }, used to indicate aggregation or to clarify the grouping of quantities when parentheses and square brackets have already been used. Also called bracket.

A shell, used as a die. See Props.

Pl. brace A pair of like things

That which sustains an incumbent weight; that on which anything rests or leans for support; a support; a stay; as, a prop for a building.

To furnish with a brace.

To support, or prevent from falling, by placing something under or against; as, to prop up a fence or an old building; (Fig.) to sustain; to maintain; as, to prop a declining state.

To support or hold steady with or as if with a brace; reinforce.

A support placed beneath or against something to keep it from shaking or falling

To prepare or position so as to be ready for impact or danger

Any movable articles or objects used on the set of a play or movie;

To confront with questions or requests.

A propeller that rotates to push against air

To increase the tension of.

Support by placing against something solid or rigid;

To invigorate; stimulate

(Nautical)To turn (the yards of a ship) by the braces.

To get ready; make preparations.

(obsolete) Armor for the arm; vambrace.

(obsolete) A measurement of length, originally representing a person's outstretched arms.

A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.

That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.

A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension.

A thong used to regulate the tension of a drum.

The state of being braced or tight; tension.

Harness; warlike preparation.

(typography) A curved, pointed line, also known as "curly bracket": { or } connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be considered together, such as in {role, roll}; in music, used to connect staves.

A pair, a couple; originally used of dogs, and later of animals generally (e.g., a brace of conies) and then other things, but rarely human persons. (The plural in this sense is unchanged.) In British use (as plural), this is a particularly common reference to game birds.

A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.

(nautical) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

The mouth of a shaft.

Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.

(plural in North America, singular or plural in the UK) A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth or to reduce overbite.

(association football) Two goals scored by one player in a game.

To prepare for something bad, such as an impact or blow.

To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly.

(nautical) To swing round the yards of a square rigged ship, using braces, to present a more efficient sail surface to the direction of the wind.

To stop someone for questioning, usually said of police.

To confront with questions, demands or requests.

To furnish with braces; to support; to prop.

To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen.

To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.

That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.

A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.

The state of being braced or tight; tension.

A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.

A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves.

A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.

A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt.

Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.

Harness; warlike preparation.

Armor for the arm; vantbrace.

The mouth of a shaft.

To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building.

To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.

To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.

To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd.

To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards.

To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; - with up.

A support that steadies or strengthens something else;

Two items of the same kind

A set of two similar things considered as a unit

Either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material

A rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it

Elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)

An appliance that corrects dental irregularities

The stock of a tool used for turning a drilling bit

A structural member used to stiffen a framework

Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

Support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace;

Support by bracing

Cause to be alert and energetic;

Both serve to align and correct, but dental braces correct teeth alignment while orthopedic braces support body parts.

A brace is used to provide support or stability, often with a corrective or protective aim.

Props enhance storytelling by providing actors with physical objects that add realism or symbolic meaning to the performance.

Yes, props like pillows or foam blocks can support body parts during recovery or for comfort.

Braces are primarily designed to correct or support, but some, like prophylactic knee braces, aim to prevent injuries.

Props can help position subjects, add context, or enhance the aesthetic of a photograph.

Yes, some braces, like those used in construction or certain orthopedic braces, can be temporary.

Props are temporary supports used during construction, while braces are often permanent fixtures for stability.

Yes, in construction, scaffolding is a type of prop used to support workers and materials temporarily.

Yes, braces can reinforce parts of machinery, providing additional support or stability.

Yes, "bracing oneself" means mentally preparing for something challenging or stressful.

No, props can be used in various contexts, including construction, photography, and everyday scenarios for support.

Braces reinforce buildings or structures, enhancing their stability and resistance to stress.

Primarily, yes, props are tangible items used to support or enhance, though the term can have broader interpretations.

The duration varies, typically ranging from one to three years, depending on the individual's needs.